Barnsley: Reds and fans sticking together

New reds signing Rory Delap

Neil Goulding
Barnsley

BARNSLEY boss David Flitcroft believes the club’s players and supporters are now in harmony.

It’s been a tough season being a Barnsley fan, especially when the club plummeted to the foot of the Championship table.

Crowds have been down at Oakwell this season. But under new boss Flitcroft the club have enjoyed a welcome upturn in their fortunes as they battle to avoid relegation.

The Reds have won five of the last six matches, with their latest victory away to Blackpool celebrated by more than 1,500 travelling Barnsley fans.

“It was a relentless effort from this group of players,” said Flitcroft. “We’re making that connection with the fans home and away.

“It’s really important we do that because the players are feeling it now.

“The players feel loved and respected. The fans are respecting the players and the players are respecting the fans.

“It’s really important that it continues. The fans are on the journey. I mentioned the adventure on the day I took over - and they’re on this adventure with us.”

Next up for the Reds is a tough away clash with Middlesbrough on Saturday, opponents who they beat 1-0 at home earlier in the season.

And now might be the perfect time to face Boro again with this weekend’s hosts having lost their last four league fixtures and leaked ten goals in those defeats.

However, the Reds have not beaten Boro away in their last five meetings. Their last away win at the Riverside Stadium came with a 1-0 triumph in April 1992.

New signings Jason Scotland, who has scored twice in as many games since joining the club until the end of the season, Chris O’Grady and Rory Delap are all expected be in the squad for the trip to Teeside.

And Flitcroft has been pleased with the impact the trio have made since arriving at Oakwell.

“Rory’s fitness will only get better, there’s more to come from him,” added Flitcroft.

“Rory really want to come to the club and help guide us with his knowledge and experience.

“Jason’s getting the headlines for his goals, while Chris O’Grady was an easy one. He’s a workaholic.

“He’s got incredible strength and when we looked back at Chris Dagnall’s goals he’d scored 70 per cent of them with Chris O’Grady.

“I love looking at players who are not working at another club. People said what’s happening with Chris O’Grady at Sheffield Wednesday?

“But he’s a Barnsley player now and he’ll give everything to this group of players. He was desperate to come here.”